No lunch chair for 2-year old at Shannon creche due to funding loophole

*Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne with creche owner Siobhán Mulderrig and one of the children attending the creche

A SHANNON creche owner is “very frustrated” at a situation which has left a two-year old without a suitable chair to eat their lunch.

Alex (not real name), who goes to Kidz Haven Crèche, Shannon for playschool has recently been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. They have complex needs including being unable to sit unattended without a support seat, and requiring a specific ‘Roomer buddy walker’ to move and play. Alex, at two and a half years old, is too young for the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme and as such, Alex gets no AIM (access and inclusion model) support for essential equipment.

Creche owner, Siobhan Mulderrig, says that flexibility is needed. “I feel very strongly that there needs to be underage intervention in complex cases like this. Alex is a wonderful little child who wants to be involved with the rest of their peers in the classroom. Unfortunately, without proper equipment we are struggling to meet their needs.”

At present the creche are sharing a walker from Alex’s home. This vital piece of equipment is quite heavy and cumbersome which makes transporting it to and from the service every day quite difficult for their parents. There is a high risk of this life-altering piece of equipment being damaged, which Ms Mulderrig considers unacceptable.

“Alex is just like any other two and a half year old. They love to play with their little friends, they sing and take part in activities which are arranged around their needs – but Alex cannot even sit at the table and eat their snack with the children due to the lack of a suitable chair. Alex can only walk around and play if their parents drag this cumbersome walker in with them every morning at 8am.”

Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) recently visited the service and met Alex. She had extended a request from the Dáil floor for Minister O’ Gorman to join her, but that request went unanswered. “This is the second time this year I have attempted to bring local issues to O’Gorman’s attention,” says Deputy Wynne, “and again, neither he nor any member of his Department were willing to come out and see the effect their policies are having on local people.”

Ms Mulderrig has highlighted Alex’s case to the Minister on numerous occasions, and to date has received no response. She is currently employing a full time SNA at her own expense for Alex – because she believes Alex should be given the same opportunities as their peers. “Alex is an absolute delight to have in our service. They have wonderful parents who have been fighting for them since the day Alex came into the world. These parents will unfortunately have to continue to fight for Alex for the rest of their life.”